Principal Proposed Uses

Other Proposed Uses

Eleutherococcus senticosus
is only distantly related to the true ginseng species (
Panax ginseng
and
P. quinquefolius
) and possesses entirely different, unrelated chemical constituents. However, it is popularly called Russian or Siberian ginseng. The origin of this misnomer lies in the work of a Soviet scientist, I.I. Brekhman, who believed that eleutherococcus has the same properties as ginseng, and popularized it as a less-expensive alternative herb.

According to Brekhman, eleutherococcus and ginseng are both
adaptogens
. This term refers to a hypothetical treatment defined as follows: An adaptogen should help the body adapt to stresses of various kinds, whether heat, cold, exertion, trauma, sleep deprivation, toxic exposure, radiation, infection, or psychological stress. Furthermore, an adaptogen should cause no side effects, be effective in treating a wide variety of illnesses, and help return an organism toward balance no matter what may have gone wrong.

Perhaps the only indisputable example of an adaptogen is a healthful lifestyle. By eating right, exercising regularly, and generally living a life of balance and moderation, you will increase your physical fitness and ability to resist illnesses of all types. Brekhman felt certain that both eleutherococcus and ginseng produced similarly universal benefits. However, there is little to no meaningful evidence supporting this theory.

Herbs sold under the name ciwuja are most likely
Eleutherococcus
, as well.

What Is Eleutherococcus Used for Today?

If Brekhman is right, ginseng (whether
Eleutherococcus
or
Panax
) should be the right treatment for most of us. Modern life is tremendously stressful, and if an herb could help us withstand
stress
, it would be a useful herb indeed.
Eleutherococcus
is widely used for this purpose in Russia and Eastern Europe, and it is popular elsewhere as well. However, there is little meaningful evidence to support this theory. Existing evidence on the supposed adaptogenic properties falls far beneath current scientific standards.
1

Better quality studies have evaluated the potential usefulness of
Eleutherococcus
for specific conditions. Most, however, have failed to find benefit.

In the one unquestionably positive study, a 6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 93 men and women with recurrent herpes infections, treatment with eleutherococcus (2 g daily) reduced the frequency of outbreaks by approximately 50%.
2

Although
Eleutherococcus
is widely used as a
sports supplement
, evidence from studies is largely negative. For example, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 20 athletes over an 8-week period found no improvement in physical performance.
3
In addition, a small double-blind, crossover trial found
Eleutherococcus
ineffective for improving performance in endurance exercise (ie, prolonged cycling).
4
Finally, in a small double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of endurance athletes, use of
Eleutherococcus
actually
increased
physiological signs of stress during intensive training.
5

Several double-blind studies enrolling a total of about 500 people have evaluated a proprietary combination therapy containing extracts of Eleutherococcus and the herb andrographis for the treatment of
upper respiratory infections
, and found benefit.
7-9
In general, these studies reported that use of the combination therapy may decrease both severity and duration of upper respiratory infections. However, it is not clear whether the presence of the
Eleutherococcus
adds any benefit beyond that of the andrographis constituent, which taken alone has shown efficacy in clinical trials. For more information, see the
Andrographis
article.

Dosage

Safety Issues

According to studies performed primarily in the former Soviet Union,
Eleutherococcus
appears to present a low order of toxicity in both the short- and long-term. Human trials have not resulted in any significant side effects.
1,10
Safety in pregnant or nursing women, young children, or people with severe liver or kidney disease is not known.

One report suggests that
Eleutherococcus
may alter the results of a test for the medication digoxin.
11
However, it is not clear whether it was the
Eleutherococcus
or a contaminant (eg, digoxin mixed with the herb) that caused these problems.

Interactions You Should Know About

If you are taking:

Digoxin
: Eleutherococcus may interfere with blood tests designed to measure digoxin level.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.